February 13, 2018

Even The New York Times Concedes Print Will Probably Be Dead

It had been a power symbol on the Metro North commuter train to Manhattan: Professionals engrossed in reading The New Times.

It was the print version.

When they reached their stop in Grand Central, they would dutifully deposit it in the trash cans lined up near the trains.

That was then.

In 10 years, conceded the chief executive officer of the NYT - Mark Thompson - there might not even be a print version. Here is the coverage of his remarks at Power Lunch by CNBC.

On the one hand, Thompson doesn't look forward to the end of print. On the other, he is thrilled that digital subscriptions keep increasing. Given the latest earnings report, it looks like that media outlet will survive as a going business.

Some had predicted it would have collapsed by now or primarily been supported by a foundation. But, here it is. And it could outlast digital upstarts like Buzzfeed. There had been rumors that Steve Jobs' widow was going to save Buzzfeed.

Reflection: Substance is back. The New York Times knows how to publish long form content of value.